Rural Racism

Background

Soon after the publication of the Lawrence report into the death of Stephen Lawrence, TMG began to receive a large number of calls from people living in rural areas who were experiencing racism. The caller’s reports appeared to be very similar. They had been subject to racist abuse, often on a daily basis and sometimes over many years. Despite reporting their suffering, often victims found themselves isolated without practical or emotional support. It was almost as if the needs of the minority populations in these rural areas were being systematically neglected.

Through our experience of working in rural areas in the UK we have identified four main problems as to why racism in rural areas is often not tackled appropriately:

1. The denial of the existence of ethnic minorities in rural areas, which results in a widespread denial of racism and racist violence.
2. A ‘colour blind’ approach to minority populations which results in a failure to acknowledge their diverse needs, their experience of racism and racist hostility.
3. A belief in rural areas that racist violence is an urban problem and does not exist in rural settings.
4. A lack of effective support, consultative structures and mechanisms for isolated people.

The Rural Racism Project (RRP), launched in February 2004, aims to redress some of these issues, and has grown from a network of volunteers to become a branch of The Monitoring Group, providing specialist victim support service for victims of racial violence across the South West. Three years later, in February 2007 the Rural Racism Project, responding to increased demand from the Torbay region, relocated from Plymouth to its current office in Torquay. The Torbay Community Empowerment Project was set up with funding from the Big Lottery and sees an expansion of RRP’s core casework and advice services to encompass community organising.

Casework

When somebody suffers racial violence or harassment, the route to justice or a return to emotional or physical health can be long and complex. In taking on a case we can help and advise victims how best to navigate the complexities of criminal justice, education, housing, health and other public agencies so that they have control of how their case progresses and can best influence its outcome. Typical casework services include emotional support, advice, advocacy, victim-centred case conferences and liaison work.

All the victim support services we offer are free, independent and confidential. A large part of our work involves advising and supporting victims where it best suits them (home, workplace, school etc). As an independent organisation we put victims and their families in the centre of all of our casework services.

Community Organising

Through art interventions, public meetings, community “know your rights” training, youth workshops, families’ cultural workshops, critical literacy courses for migrant workers and weekly advice surgeries RRP is working with groups and individuals in the rural South West to build anti-racist victim support networks and equip activists and volunteers with the skills they need to defend and promote the rights of those who suffer racism.

Training

In addition to the training we provide for community members, RRP can also deliver training and consultation on anti-racism and recording and monitoring racist incidents to public and private agencies.